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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: lezelle on May 25, 2021, 13:33:06

Title: French bean description
Post by: lezelle on May 25, 2021, 13:33:06
Hi Ya, I may be confusing myself but french beans are confusing me. I would like to grow non climbing french purple and green french beans. I have read the the names and some say climbing others say dwarf. I have sown what were described as dwarf but they are climbers. How do I tell as there is no telling from the packet they were supplied in. Am I missing something here. Any ideas would be welcome. Thanks
Title: Re: French bean description
Post by: gray1720 on May 25, 2021, 14:52:58
I'm so glad it's not just me who's sown "dwarf" beans and got climbers!
Title: Re: French bean description
Post by: Paulh on May 25, 2021, 14:55:32
If the seller describes the beans they sell to you as climbing, the ones they send you should climb and if they describe them as dwarf, they shouldn't. Either the wrong seeds are in the packets or you made a mistake when ordering. Both things can happen!

I'm not sure if there are any French bean varieties that come in both climbing and dwarf forms (though Borlotti beans do), so if you have the variety name, you should be able to work out what it is meant to do.

Thompson & Morgan are not everybody's favourite supplier but their web site does label its French beans as climbing and dwarf, so that may give you a start in deciding what you want, even if you buy elsewhere. Likewise Kings Seeds.
Title: Re: French bean description
Post by: Tee Gee on May 25, 2021, 15:22:36
What varieties did you buy?

You could try comparing what you thought you bought with the following lists;

Fothergills

https://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/Pea-and-Bean-Seeds/Dwarf-Bean-Seeds/ (https://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/Pea-and-Bean-Seeds/Dwarf-Bean-Seeds/)

DT Browns

https://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/Peas-Beans/French-Bean-Seed/ (https://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/Peas-Beans/French-Bean-Seed/)

Suttons

https://www.suttons.co.uk/vegetable-seeds/french-bean-seeds/ (https://www.suttons.co.uk/vegetable-seeds/french-bean-seeds/)

Dobies;

https://www.dobies.co.uk/vegetable-seeds/french-bean-seeds/
Title: Re: French bean description
Post by: lezelle on May 25, 2021, 16:51:41
Hi Ya, The one I have is purple tepee, the packet says dwarf french but it climbs. I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who sowed dwarf and found they are climbers. I will do more research now and see what I can sort as it seems different supplier's call them different names. Thanks for the information from all.
Title: Re: French bean description
Post by: BarriedaleNick on May 25, 2021, 19:40:11
purple tepee is supposed to only grow to 18"!
Title: Re: French bean description
Post by: gray1720 on May 25, 2021, 21:15:24
If the seller describes the beans they sell to you as climbing, the ones they send you should climb and if they describe them as dwarf, they shouldn't. Either the wrong seeds are in the packets or you made a mistake when ordering. Both things can happen!

I can't remember now whether my dwarves climbed, or my climbers dwarfed (I think it was the former), but they were from Suttons and it quite clearly said on the pack they were the other ones to how they turned out.
Title: Re: French bean description
Post by: saddad on May 26, 2021, 08:39:38
I always thought Purple Tepee was a climber, requiring a "wigwam" of canes.... used to grow it about a decade ago, and it was definitely a climber as I don't grow dwarf French beans.
Title: Re: French bean description
Post by: lezelle on May 26, 2021, 10:01:27
Hi Ya, If you look at dobies the purple tepee as dwarf. I didn't get mine from there but they were dwarf and they are trying to climb. I forget where I got them from now and have chucked the packet away. I have had the a fair while. cheers
Title: Re: French bean description
Post by: Digeroo on May 28, 2021, 07:56:05
I had a dwarf packet last year and it climbed big time.  It was called Black Wax pencil pod.  Each plant produced several shoots and they all climbed.
I was going to recommend Purple Teepee.  I have never had that climb and it has always produced pods very fast.  I also tend to put in a row in July.
Title: Re: French bean description
Post by: Tiny Clanger on May 29, 2021, 11:22:13
Hi Izelle, I only grow climbers as arthritis makes it awkward for me to harvest.  I always had true to description results when I used to grow dwarf beans.  I bought from well known sellers.  I find that Premier Seeds Direct have always been good for one of the "newer" sellers and any problem with Kings I ring and they have replaced.
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